Automatic sales board register



June 20, 1950 A. R. LOMBARDO AUTOMATIC SALES BOARD REGISTER Filed July 30, 1948 OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOODOOOOOOO OOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Rokooov moyooo 0000000000000 0 oooooooooooo 00000000000000 0 ooooooooooooo 00000 0000000000 oooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooo ooooooocooooooo 0000000000 0 o 0 OOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO 0OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOmvWwOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOwwWw 00 ALBERT Rlomcm R00 ATTORNEYS Patented June 20, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This invention relates to an automatic sales board register machine.

It is the common practice in stores, restaurants, and the like to provide a board having openings containing slips of paper rolled up in openings therein which are punched by customers for the giving of prizes, the playing of games, etc. Each punch on the board is charged for by the storekeeper and each player usually punches a number of slips before paying for his play. Unless the storekeeper watches the player and counts the number of plays made by him, the player may deceive the storekeeper by paying less than the amount due to be paid.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a novel sales board register whichoperates automatically upon the punching of the ticket therefrom to register the sale of such ticket, thus making it easy for a storekeeper to keep check on the number of tickets sold to a "given customer.

A further object is to provide such an apparatus wherein the punching of a ticket from the board automatically closes a circuit for operatin the register regardless of the position on the sales board from which the ticket is punched.

[A further object is to provide a single circuit closing unit which is engageable by any ticket punched from the sales board for energizing the electrical means for operating the register.

A further object is to provide a device of this character wherein the single circuit closing means comprises a plate arranged behind the board and serving the second function of guiding the punched slip for discharge at the lower end of the machine to be picked up by the player.

A further object is to provide a novel type of circuit closing means for a device of this character for operating a register or counter, and wherein the circuit is closed only momentarily upon the punching of a slip from the sales board, the circuit being opened immediately thereafter for the return of the parts to normal position.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following. description.

In the drawings, I have shown one embodiment of the invention. In this showing,

Figure 1 is a face view of the device showing a sales board in position,

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view on line 2--2 of Figure 1,

Fi ure 3 is a detailed sectio al view on lin 3-3 of Figure 2, V

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the circuit closing means,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan view of-a portion ofthe device showing the individual and total counters, and

Figure. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of the switch device for the mechanism.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral l0 designates a casing as a whole, having a vertical back wall H and a horizontal top wall l2. The front face of the casing is provided with an enlarged rectangular opening 13 formed by turning the side walls 14 of the casing inwardly to. form narrow flanges l 5.

The casing is provided in the front thereof with a wall l8 forming a shoulder on which is adapted to rest a conventional sales board l9. This board has its lower back face engageable with an upturned shoulder 20 formed on the wall [8. The top wall I2 is cut back as at 2| to a point spaced from the flanges 15 to permit the board l9 to be inserted in the top of the casing to slide downwardly to the operative position shown in Figures 1 and 2. A board [9 has an upper front face portion 24 adapted to receive illustrations or advertising matter thereon in accordance with .the usual practice. The lower portion of the board is provided with rows and columns of openings 25 extending therethrough. Each of these openings is adapted to receive a rolled paper or similar strip, one of which is shown in Figure 2 and indicated by the numerallfi. Such strip 26 is shown being punched from the board by a suitable implement 2'l. 1 1

Rearwardly of the board I9 is arranged a plate 30, coextensive in width with the remote col-.- umns of openings 25 so that any paper strip 26 punched from the board I9 will engage against the plate 30. This plate is pivotally supported at its upper end as at 3|. The strips 26 punched from the board will swing the plate 30 rearwardly to perform functions to be referred to below and each punched strip, as it is freed from the board l9, will fall downwardly through the space 32 between the board 19 and plate 30, to be discharged from the mechanism. Each paper strip will fall upon an inclined plate 33 arranged on supports 34 and having its rear end turned upwardly as at 35. The plate 33 serves as a chute to discharge the paper strips through a lower front opening 36, or to place the strips in a position on the plate 30 where they canbe reached and removed by the fingers of the player.

Referring to Figure 2, the numeral designates a solenoid having an armature 4| connected the other terminal 54 of the battery. A resilient switch arm 56 is arranged over the insulating blocks 52 and the wire 46 is connected 'to'the' w itdownWardlyfrom the top as previously stated, ,until itv issupported by the wall or shelf I8. No

switch arm 56. An operating arm 51 for the switch arm 58 is arranged thereover as shown in Figure 6, and the assembly of elements'ffimifi': and

5'! is secured in position by suitable screws .53.

The switch arm 55 carries a contact point 59 engageable with the contact 5!, and the free end of the resilient contact 56 may'engageas attl with the operating arm 51.

-Asshown in Figures 2and'4, the arm 5'! is provided with a "T'-head '64, one end of which is slightly turned upwardly as at'65 and the other end of which-is preferably similarly turned downwardly at at66. The T-head64 isadapted to be engaged by an'operating arm BBhaving an upturned end-69 welded'or otherwise secured to the plate 30 asshown in'Figure 2. The operating -arm '68 may be 'formedof resilient strip material andis notched as at 'to cooperate with the T hea'd "'64 to operate the switch mechanism. The free end of the arm 68 is preferably slightly turnedupwardly as at H adjacent the down turne'd'end iili of the T-head-M; The notch lil *has -a bottom thereof movablepas't the edge of the T-head 64 remote from the switch points El and 59so that in the operation of the device, as described in detail below, only the finger l2 "formed at the end ofthe'notch Til will engage the T-head '64. In this connectiomit'will be noted'that the operating arm 68 slopes upwardly toward the plate 30 "and accordingly the notch "10 lies in 'a plane inclined relative to the- T head 64.

1 A dashpot' tends to retard movement .of the plate backto'itsnormal positionafter it has been'moved from such position. The dashpot comprises a cylinder lfipivotally supported as at H, and a piston 18 is arranged in .the cylinder 16. The pistonis provided witha rod 19 pivotally'connected as at 80 to the plate 39. The piston 18 is provided .therethrough with an.air

passage 8| covered byLa ismall check valve 82 which; permits the piston 18 to be freely deflected toward the rightin'Figure 2, but closes the passage 8I to restrict. return. movement ofthe piston. A'spring 83 is arranged in the cylinder 16 and provides the resilient means for. holding the plate .30'in its normal position shownlin Figure 2. Any suitablemeans maybe providedfor limiting the return movement of the piston 18 to thus predetermine'the normal position of the plate 30. For example, an enlargement 84 on the piston 19 may engage the bearing 85 through which the pistonrod 19 extends.

'Thetop wall l'2 .of the casing isprovided with a. pair of openings 90 and 9| to receive theindieating portions of counters 92 and 93. As will become apparent, the counter 92 is intended to indicate the number of ,purchases made by an individual-purchaser, while the counter 93 indicates the total number of purchases over any given period of time. These counters have reset arms 'for both counters.

4 wheels more or less diagrammatically represented in Figure 2 and indicated by the numeral 94. The counters 92 and 93 are provided respectively with operating arms 95 and 96, the former of which has its end 91 offset inwardly so as to be arranged parallel and in proximity to the arm 95, as shown in Figure 3. An operating arm 98 in the form of a relatively stifi strip of material has its end 99 engaging the operating The opposite end of the arm 98 has a downturned end H18 fixed to the .plate 30.

Operation A board It is placed in the device by sliding setting or resetting of any parts of the apparatus is necessary, except for the resetting of the counters 92 and 93 as will be obvious. In other :words, itherapparatus always: ready for operation. A player will use an implement ii to punch .asselectedestripzor=;ticket"26 from the-board. This strip will :be pushed rearwardly into engagement (with the very easilyzmovable'plate 30 to swing it .toward'thefrightas shown in-Figure 2. Initial movement .of the plate r323 brings the upturned end :1! into engagement with the -downturned en'd'fifi of the T-head 64. This operation immediately-energizes the solenoid 49, current flowing from'the. source 48 through wire 45, solenoid-40, Wi1846,'SWitCh arms 56 and .50, and thence back toithesourcethrough wire'53. The solenoid thus pulls the plate 38 away "fromthe board It a predetermined distance thus providing ample space for the downward'falling of the strip or ticket '26 which :hasbeenpunched from the'board, as soon as the-strip clears the opening in which it 'was arranged. This strip or ticket thus falls downwardly ontothe plate 30to be'discharged from the mechanism or to be picked up-by the player. a

The'energization of .the solenoid Aflgin pulling the plate-.30 rearwardly, not only providesample spaceefor .the falling of'the punched ticket, but also serves to operate 'theeounters. The parts areso designed that-the distance of movement of.the-portions of the,plate 30 within the limits oflthe areaofthe board in which the openings 25 are formed is suflicient to provide ample clearance .for. the falling of the punched tickets, regardless of thGQJOItiOIlS of the board from which such .ticketsarepunched. The parts likewise are so designed as to provide the proper distance .oiumovement of the operating arm 98 to move the arms 95 and 95 to operate the counters in the proper. manner. These counters, of course, form no part-per -se of .the present invention and accordinglyneednot beillustrated or described in detail. Obviously ..the punching .of each ticket operates bothlcounters, thus indicating that another ticket has been punched.

The finger i2 slidesacrosslthe T-head B4 and the T-headmoves relatively through'the notch 'Tll \whilebeing engaged solely by the finger 1 2. The electrical contact at the points 5| and 59 will be maintained throughout movement of the finger 12 over the T-head 64, thus assuring the maintenance of the solenoid circuit to pull the plate 30 rearwardly its proper predetermined distance. The finger 1.2 then slides from the rear end 65 of the T-head 54, thus releasing the operating arm 5l' for movement upwardly to disengage the'contacts 5l and59 and thus breakin the solenoid circuit.

"*{The's'p'ring 83 now exerts its force against the "piston I8 to transmit movement through the'rod 19 to return the plate 30 toits normal position. During such movement the finger l2 slides beneath the T-head 64, the resilience of the arms "51 and 6B (Figure 4) permitting-this operation to-takeplace freely. The function of the dashpot 16 is to retardmovement of the plate 30- back' to "its normal position thus assuring ample time for ='each punched ticket to drop onto'the plate 33. "Whenever a player finishes playing the board, a i clerk in the store may read the individual counter 'SZfthusdetermining the number of playswhich have'been made so that the proper charge can be madeltherefor. The charge having been made, -th e" individual counter 92 may be set back to zero.

Fromthe foregoing, it will be apparent that the "present device forms an effective means for hold- "tion al practice of holding the board in thehand.

The plate 3!] acts as a chute to guide the punched tickets downwardly and serves also as the means for mechanically operating the counters. The

switch means is automatic and regardless of the f movement imparted to the plate 30 by the tickets, which is dependent on the distance of the punched ticket from the pivot 31, the switch mechanism insures identical operation of the plate 30 whenever a ticket is punched by insu r-= *ing'the maintenance of the solenoid circuit to 'move the plate 30 the proper predetermined distan'ce. Y I'claim: "Kl-x A counting device for game boards having a plurality of openings therethrough containing tickets adapted to be punched therefrom through the back of the board, comprising a plate arranged'rearwardly of the board and at least coexftensive with the area thereof in which the openingsare formed, said plate being relatively movableaway from the board and normally arranged in such proximity to the board thatin the punching of a ticket therefrom the ticket will move "said plate rearwardly from the board, a solenoid "connected to said plate andenergizable to move saidplate a predetermined distance away from the board, a circuit for said solenoid including a switch adapted to be closed by said plate in iniv tial movement thereof from the board upon the l -punching of a ticket therefrom, and a counter connected for operation by said plate in the movement transmitted thereto by said solenoid.

2. A counting device for game boards having a plurality of openings therethrough containin saidplatea predetermined distance away-from the board, a'circuit for said solenoid including a switch adapted to be closed by said plate in initial. movement thereof from the board upon the punching of a ticket therefrom, a counter connected for operation by said plate in the movement transmitted thereto by said solenoid, said plate serving as a slide for guiding punched tickets for downward movement, there being a space between said plate and the board open at the bottom thereof, and a plate beneath said board to catch tickets dropping from the lower end of said space.

3. A counting device for game boards having a plurality of openings therethrough containing tickets adapted to be punched therefrom through the back of the board, comprising a plate arranged rearwardly of the board in normally slight spaced parallel relation thereto and supported at its upper end for pivotal movement away from the board, said plate being coextensive with the area of the board in which the openings are formed whereby any ticket punched from the board will engage said plate and swing it away from the board, a solenoid mechanically connected to said plate and energizable to swing said plate a predetermined distance away from the board, a circuit for said solenoid comprising a switch operable by the plate upon initial movement of said plate by a punched ticket to energize said solenoid, and a counter operable by movement of said plate through said predetermined distance.

4. A counting device for game boards having a plurality of openings therethrough containing tickets adapted to be punched therefrom through the back of the board, comprising a plate 'arranged rearwardly of the board in normally slight spaced parallel relation thereto and supported at itsupper end for pivotal movement away from the board, said plate being coextensive with the area of the board in which the openings are the board, a circuit for said solenoid comprising a switch operable by the plate upon initial movement of said plate by a punched ticket to energize said'solenoid, a counter operable by movement of said plate through said predetermined distance, the space between the board and said plate being open at the bottom thereof for the discharge of punched tickets, said plate serving as a guide to direct the tickets downwardly through through the open bottom of such space, and a second plate beneath said first-named plate to catch the tickets discharged from said space.

5. A device for use in connection with a board having an area thereof provided with openings therethrough containing tickets adapted to be punched from the openings for discharge through the rear face of the board, comprising a casing having a front portion adapted to support the board with the front face thereof facing forwardly, a relatively fiat plate within said casing supported at its upper end by said casing for swinging movement on a horizontal axis, said plate being at least coextensive in area with the area of the board in which the openings are formed and being normally slightly spaced from the board and engageable by a ticket punched from any opening to be initially swung rearwardly, electrical means comprising a solenoid, and

estates acircuit therefor including a switch arranged to be closed by such initial swinging movement of said plate to energize said solenoid for swinging said plate rearwardly a predetermined distance from the board, a counter operable by swinging movement of said plate through said predetermined distance, the space between the plate and said board being open at the bottom thereof and said plate serving to guide punched tickets downwardly for discharge through the bottom of such space, and a second plate arranged beneath said space and onto which the punched tickets drop to be collected.

6. A device for use in connection with a board having an area thereof provided with openin s therethrough containing tickets adapted to be punched from the openings for discharge through the rear face of the board, comprisin a casing having a front portion adapted to support the board with the front face thereof facing forwardly, a relatively flat plate within said casing supported at its upper end by said casing for swinging movement on a horizontal axis, said plate being at least coextensive in area with the area of the board in which the openings are formed and being normally slightly spaced from the board and engageable by a ticket punched from any opening to be initially swung rearwardly, a solenoid having its armature connected to said plate, circuit means for said solenoid comprising a switch movable to closed position upon said initial movement of said plate to energize said solenoid and swing said plate a predetermined distance away from the board, and a counter operable by movement of said plate through said predetermined distance.

7. A device for use in connection with a board having an area thereof provided with openings therethrough containing tickets adapted to be punched from the openings for-discharge through the rear face of the board, comprising a casing having a front portion adapted to support the board with the front face thereof facing forward- 13, a relatively flat plate within said casing supported at its upper end by said casing for swinging movement on a horizontal axis, said plate being at least coextensive in area with the area of the board in which the openings are formed and being normally slightly spaced from the board and engageable by a ticket punched from any opening to be initially swung rearwardly, a solenoid having its armature connected to said plate, and circuit means for said solenoid comprising switch elements in said casing and a movable operating element carried by said Plate andengageable with one of said switch elements upon said initial movement of said plate to energize said solenoid, said one switch element being elongated in the direction of movement of said operating element in contact therewith to maintain said solenoid energized through a predetermined distance of swinging movement of said plate.

8. A device for use in connection with a board having an area thereof provided with openings therethrough containing tickets adapted to be punched from the openings for discharge through the rear face of the board, comprising a casing having a front portion adapted to support the bo rd w t th nt face th reo fac -f w dl relat e y flat plate wi hi aid-e sin support d-s it pp n b sai casi o sw n m emen on a h zo t l a s ai plate being at least coextensive in area with the area of the board in which the openings are formed and being normally slightly spaced frcm the board and engageable by a ticket punched from a o en n to be initi y un r a wardly, electrical means comprising a solenoid. and a circuit therefor including a switch arranged to be-,closed by such initial swinging movement of said plate to energize said solenoid i0 swinging said plate rearwardly a prfid? termined distance from the board, a counter operable-by swinging movement of said plate through said predetermined distance, the space between the plate .and said board being open at the bottom thereof and said plate serving to guide punched tickets downwardly for discharge through the bottom .of such space, and a dashpot mechanically connected to said plate to permit free movement of said plate away from the board and to retard return movement of said plate toward the board.

9. A device for use in connection with a board having an area thereof provided with op n n s therethrough containing tickets adapted -to punched from the openings for discharge through the rear face of the board, comprising a casing having a front portion adapted to support the board with the front face thereof facing {forwardly, a relatively flat plate within said casing sup= 'portedat its upper end by said casing for swinging movement on a horizontal axis, said plate being at least coextensive in area with the area of the board in which the ppenings are formed and being normally slightly spaced from the board and engageable by a ticket punched from any opening to be initially swung rearwardly, electrical means comprising a solenoid, and ,a .cir.cuit therefor including a switch arranged to be closed by such initial swinging movement of said plate to energize said solenoid for swinging said plate rearwardly a predetermined distance from the board, a counter operable by swinging movement of said plate through said predetermined distance, the space between the plate and said board being open at the bottom thereof and said plate serving to guide punched tickets downwardly for discharge through the bottom of such space, a dashpot having mechanical connection with said plate whereby the latter is adapted to swing freely away from the board but is retarded in its return movement toward the board, and spring means for urging said plate toward the board.

ALBERT R. LOMBARDQ.

REFERENCES .CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,244,0 0 Rebstock June 3, 19,41 zaoesos Hadesbeck Aug. 2?, 1946 ,431,807 Kimsey Dec. 2, 1947 ,43 ,273 Solomon Feb. 17, i948 

